Evaluation of yam varieties for reaction to plant parasitic nematodes infestation in three agro-ecologies of Ghana

2015

english

Three popular yam varieties; Pona, Dente and Afebetua were evaluated for their reaction to plant parasitic nematodes infestation in three districts (Atebubu, Kintampo and Wenchi) of Ghana where yam is intensively cultivated. Plant population/12 m2 plot, nematode population/200 cm3 rhizosphere soil, nematode population/5g tuber peels, tuber gall index and yield were analyzed using the mixed model (REML) approach in GenStat. Plant establishment of Pona at Wenchi was 63% higher than at Atebubu. Three nematodes; Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus coffeae and Scutellonema bradys were isolated from rhizosphere soils across the locations. Meloidogyne spp. population on Afebetua was 41 and 61% higher than on Dente at Kintampo and Wenchi respectively. Similarly, 64 and 89% more Pratylenchus coffeae were found on Afebetua than on Dente at Atebubu and Wenchi, respectively. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) populations of Meloidogyne spp. juveniles were extracted from tuber peels in Pona, Dente and Afebetua at Wenchi than at Atebubu. Afebetua was the highest yielding variety. It out yielded Pona by (87, 45 and 71)% and Dente by (66, 81 and 62)% at Atebubu, Kintampo and Wenchi, respectively.

Osei, K.; Danso, Y.; Otoo, E.; Adomako, J.; Sackey-Asante, J.; Abugri, B.